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Autopsy on Kim Jong-nam completed; body's release subject to N. Korean Embassy approval

KUALA LUMPUR: The autopsy on Kim Jong-nam, half brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, was completed late this evening.

This was confirmed by a source from the Kuala Lumpur Hospital, who spoke on condition of anonymity to the New Straits Times.

However, when pressed for further information, the source said details of the case could only be shared by the police.

“The investigating officer had taken down details of the case.

“The police are expected to issue a statement on this,” said the source.

Meanwhile, three cars from the North Korean Embassy were spotted exiting the Kuala Lumpur Hospital Forensic Department at 7.50pm.

As the vehicles exited the morgue compound, journalists seized the opportunity to get the best shots and made attempts for an interview.

However, they were met with disappointment when the officials did not entertain the requests.

According to the source, the body of Jong-Nam, which is still at the hospital, will only be released following approval from the North Korean Embassy, the Malaysian Foreign Ministry and the police.

“There are many procedures involved in this. The police will inform if there are any updates."

A policeman at the Forensic Department, when asked to comment on the case, merely said "no comment".

As of 8.05pm, journalists from both local and foreign press were seen waiting opposite the morgue, providing final updates on the case for the day.

On Monday, Jong-Nam was allegedly poisoned by two women, said to be North Korean operatives, at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport 2 (KLIA2).

He was due to board a morning flight to Macau when an unknown woman wiped his face with a cloth, laced with unidentified liquid.

After complaining to airport staff of diziness, Jong-nam was rushed to the Putrajaya Hospital, but died en route.

Police have since said they have arrested one of the female suspects, a 29-year-old woman who bore a Vietnamese passport.

She was identified and arrested based on CCTV images of the incident.

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